Serviceberry Amelanchier arborea (serviceberry) is a tall shrub or small tree bearing clusters of fragrant white owers in April. Flowers give rise to very avorful, red to purple-black, berrylike fruits relished by both songbirds and people. is lovely tree has colorful fall foliage in a blend of orange, gold, red and green.

Serviceberry photos by Flickr users Dan Mullen and RJ. Bradford pear photos by Martin LaBar and Amanda Nichols. American Hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana (american hornbeam) is a small to medium multi-stemmed tree forming wide spreading rounded tops. A subtle beauty often overlooked. Simple toothed leaves are dark green and have variable yellow, orange, red or reddish purple fall color. Beautiful thin, bluish-gray bark that appears to “ripple” as the tree matures. Hence another common name: “musclewood.”

Hornbeam photos by Flickr users Wendy Cutler and Paco Garin. Bradford Pear photos by wplynn and Roger Smith. Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica (black gum) is a beautiful and underused native tree. Tidy shape. Glossy, dark green leaves turn yellow, orange, and scarlet red in fall. Bark is dark gray to almost black, alligator-like patterns when old. Fruit the size of navy beans ripen to a dark blue in fall and feed many birds. Host for the black and white Hebrew moth.

Serviceberry photos by Flickr users Dan Mullen and RJ. Bradford pear photos by Martin LaBar and Amanda Nichols. Chokecherry Prunus virginiana (chokecherry) is a small, suckering tree or large shrub with attractive white owers on 3-6” long clusters in spring. Fruit is red, ripening to purple in fall. Grow as a screen or as an understory planting as it has unusual shade tolerance for a cherry.

Chokecherry photos from Grow Native! and Flickr user Frank D. Lospalluto. Bradford Pear photo from MDC. Wild Plum Prunus americana (wild plum) can be grown as a single trunk tree or multi-stemmed shrub. e pure white, fragrant owers are among the rst to open in spring. Heavier owering in sun. Yellow to red, round, edible fruits, 1” in diameter. Host to red-spotted purple butter y and many moths.

Wild plum photos by Becky Erickson. Bradford Pear photo from MDC. Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis (Eastern redbud) bears prolic, edible, deep pink owers in early spring. Red-purple, pea-shaped seed pods follow the owers. Heart-shaped leaves turn yellow in fall.

Eastern redbud photos from Grow Native! and Flickr user Matthew Beziat. Bradford pear photos by Martin LaBar and Amanda Nichols. Flowering Dogwood Cornus orida ( owering dogwood) is a small, low-branched tree with spreading horizontal branches. Distinctive white owers, 3” in diameter, bloom mid-April to mid-May. Clusters of glossy red fruit in fall persist into winter and are relished by birds. Consistent deep red fall leaf color.

Dogwood photos by Steve Harwood and Plant Image Library. Bradford pear photo courtesy MDC. Ironwood Ostrya virginiana (ironwood or Eastern hop hornbeam), is a tough understory tree with beautiful birch-like leaves, grayish-brown aky bark, ne-textured drooping branches, and attractive hop-like fruits. Not only ornamental but resistant to many disease and insect problems.

Ironwood photos from Flickr user Katja Schulz and Missouri Botanical Garden. Bradford pear photos from John Nekola and Flickr user wplynn. Black Haw Viburnum Viburnum prunifolium (black haw viburnum) have at heads of white owers in the spring. Birds eat the purple-black fruit in the fall. e edible fruit tastes like raisins. Grow as a small tree or multi-stemmed shrub. e leaves develop a beautiful red color in fall.

Viburnum photos by Fritz Flohr Reynolds and Suzanne Cadwell. Bradford Pear photos by Bruce Henry and MDC. Yellowwood Cladrastis kentukea (yellowwood) is a medium sized tree, good for small areas, rich pea-green compound leaves with soft golden yellow fall color. e breathtaking, fragrant, creamy-white owers occur in May on pendulous 8-14” long panicles. Rarely heavily owers annually, usually alternate owering. e bark is very smooth and gray.

Yellowwood photos from Flickr user Tom Gill and Grow Native! Bradford pear photos from John Nekola and MDC. Native Missouri Trees to Plant Instead of Callery Pear